Internal-combustion engine



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W. J. WHATLEY INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed Nov. 28, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 UNITED STATES PaTENT-oFr-Ics WILLIAM J. WHATLEY, urbanus, um i Application nled 1W ovemiber 28, 1927. .Serial No. 236,282.

This .invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in internal combustion engines and the primary object thereof is to provide an engine which employs a multie plicity of c throughout the entire circumference of the shaft 1n s aced regular order so that a direct downwar drive of the shaft will occur with substantial continuity to thus derive not only a maximum of wer but to also obtain smooth driving o the shaft.

In the drawings:- Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, and

Fig.,3 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing a modified form of the invention.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings, eight cylinders 1 are employed which are provided with/pistons 2 and piston rods 3. The cylinders 1 arev arranged in a line 1ptarallel to the crank shaft 4. The crank sha has cranks 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12, one for each of the piston rods,

the latter being connected to the rods by journal boxes 13. The adjacent cranks are connected by inclined parts 14, four in number. By referrin to Fig. 1` of the drawings, it will be note that the cranks 5 etc., are located in varying relation to the longitudinal axis of the shaft and, as shown in Fig. 2, such cranks are arranged so that collectively they entirely surround the shaft in regular spaced order. Thus by reference to Fig. 1, it will be noted that as the first cylinder to the right is at the limit of its idle or upstroke, the last cylinder is at the limit of its working or downstroke, while the intermediate cylinders 0ccupy intermediate positions between the two extremes in regular steplike order as depicted in Fig. 1. With this construction and assemblage" of the parts, it will be seen that the pistons will successively drive the shaft and parted to the shaft` in' successive order throughout its 360, due to the cranks being disposed throughout the circumference of the shaft, as depicted in Fig. 2. The cylinders 5 may be cast en bloc and are provided with linders arranged in line with al crank sha t having its cranks arranged full direct downward strokes will be imsupportin arms 17 ui d with ournal boxes 15 ign which -lattlir Iiermediatb parts 16 of the shaft 4 are rotatably supported. The arms' 17 are arranged at the ends of the cylinders and between each pair of adjacent cylinders so that live arms are accordingly employed. The shaft with the disclosure of Fig. v 1 receives eight direct downward strokes in successive order.

In Fig. 3 a modified form of the invention :60 is disclosed and wherein the cylinders are arranged in Vformation. In this 'form of the invention, there are sixteen cylinders employed, eight in a line, the two lines having the V-relation shown inl Fig. 3. With this *o5 structure, each of the cranks of the shaft is provided with a double bearing for the two piston rods of the opposed cylinders, the. cranks otherwise being arranged in a regular spaced order about the entire circumference '70 of the shaft, conse uently the shaft receives sixteen direct impu ses instead of eight, as in the instance of Figs. 1 and 2. Obviously greater power is accordingly had and corresponding increased smoothness in the shaftl ,75 drive, due to the impulses being imparted to the shaft at one-halfv of the distances in the v instance of Fi 1.

The firing of(17 the cylinders is successive, i. e., the second following the first, the third the so second, etc. In the V-type the cylinders are similarly fired, however, when the vpistons of the cylinders on one side are on their working stroke, the pistons on the other side are on4 their idlin or compression stroke.

Obviously t e invention is susceptible of use with engines of any type, whether two or four cycle, the `engine per se forming no part of the present invention.

1. In an internal combustion engine, a series of alined cylinders arranged in pairs and each having a piston and a piston rod thereinan integral crank shaft having spaced pairs of cranks which latter are disposed in- 95 equi-distantly spaced .progressively circular order andare connected byintermediate inclined parts, said inclined parts being of greater diameter than that of the cranks to form end shoulders, journal boxes for the 100 piston rods connected thereto and having one side of their sides abutting the respective shoulders, connecting parts for adjacent pairs of the cranks extendin across the space there- 5 between and having s oulders engaging the opposite sides of the journal boxes, and journais-for said connecting arts.

2. In an internal com ustion engine, a series of alined cylinders arranged in pairs 1g and each having a piston and a piston rod therein, an integral crank shaft having spaced pairs of cranks which latter are disposed in equi-distantly spaced progressively circular order and are connected by intermediate in- 15 clined parts, means to connect the rods to the cranks, connectin parts for adjacent pairs of the cranks exten ing across the space therebetween, and journals for said connecting parts. 2c In testimony whereof I aix my signature.

WM. J. WHATLEY. 

